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FIBA signs 11-year partnership with Nike

FIBA President Horacio Muratore (centre) poses with the trophy of the FIBA Basketball World Cup and is joined by – back row (from left to right): Craig Zanon, Vice President and General Manager of Nike Global Basketball; Lynn Merritt, Vice President of Nike Global Basketball Sports Marketing; LeBron James (USA); Giannis Antetokounmpo (GRE); FIBA Central Board Members Jim Tooley (USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director) and Michele O’Keefe (Canada Basketball President and CEO); front row (from left to right): Lindsay Whalen (USA); Kyrie Irving (USA); Marc Gasol (ESP); Paul George (USA).

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and world leading sports apparel brand Nike, on Monday announced the signing of an 11-year (2017-2027) commercial agreement covering FIBA’s Senior Men’s, Women’s and Youths’ flagship national team competitions.

It is a natural partnership between the number one basketball brand in the world and the sport’s governing body, which counts 213 National Member Federations all around the globe.

The agreement, which comes into effect during the year that sees the launch of FIBA’s Competition System 2017+, underlines FIBA and Nike’s desire to collaborate in order to grow basketball worldwide, focusing on the leading official competitions such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Continental Cups.

Nike, the number one sports brand in the world, will benefit from long-term global marketing rights related to the major FIBA national team competitions. FIBA’s ambitions to grow the game will be supported by Nike contributions in the areas of promotion, marketing communication and the engagement of top players and ambassadors. In a first phase, the related activities will focus on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. Together, FIBA and Nike strive to build the FIBA Basketball World Cup into an outstanding global sports property.

Craig Zanon, Vice President and General Manager of Nike Global Basketball, said: “We are very excited about this partnership with FIBA. FIBA represents the highest level of international basketball competition, and Nike is committed to using our unmatched global reach to help foster player development and inspire fans around the world.

“We are honoured to have helped ignite a powerful culture of basketball in China. Chinese basketball fans’ passion and appetite for the game promise to make the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 a marquee global event.”

Speaking about FIBA’s Competition System 2017+, Lynn Merritt, Vice President of Nike Global Basketball Sports Marketing, said: “With this increased schedule and new emphasis on the international game, we look forward to helping connect fans to the energy and inspiration of their national teams and players.”

Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member, said: “This is a memorable day for FIBA as we team up with Nike, THE basketball brand by excellence. FIBA has already enjoyed the privilege of working with Nike, who is the Founding Partner of 3×3, our ever-growing and popular urban discipline. We look forward to this long-term partnership and it helping us grow the game globally, thanks to the unrivalled popularity as well as worldwide presence that Nike has to offer.”

Nike becomes a FIBA Partner in the sports apparel (clothing, footwear and accessories) product category. As such, it has sponsorship rights for all Men’s and Women’s editions of FIBA’s competitions for the 2017-2027 period, including FIBA Basketball World Cups (2019, 2023 and 2027) and their Qualifiers, FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups, FIBA Continental Cups and their Qualifiers, FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, FIBA U17 and U19 Basketball World Cups.

The advertising and promotional use of Nike’s marks and imagery at these competitions will include the prominent presence of the “swoosh” branding on the court, the integration of its branding across online and in-arena content as well as the provision of uniforms for on-court officials and volunteers.

The agreement also sees Nike become the title partner for FIBA’s World Rankings – one of the most visited sections on FIBA.com, with countries ranked based on the performances of their national teams – renaming it Nike FIBA World Rankings.

Additionally, Nike will have the Licensing Rights to develop, distribute and sell a range of Celebration products and footwear.